Equine Medicine encompasses the study and application of medical practices specifically related to the health and well-being of horses. This field involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders affecting equine species. It covers a wide range of topics, including internal medicine, surgery, reproduction, and pharmacology. Research in equine medicine often focuses on understanding the physiological and pathological processes unique to horses, as well as developing effective therapeutic interventions. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equine medicine, providing insights into the latest advancements and methodologies in the care and management of horse health.
Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Christensen NC, Haugaard SL, Schneider MJ, Vinther Z, Sattler SM, Carstensen H, Jøns C, Hopster-Iversen C, Buhl R.Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) occurs sporadically and can impair athletic performance. Gold standard for diagnosis is surface electrocardiography (ECG), however, this requires AF to be sustained. Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) are routinely used for AF detection in human medicine. While ILR placement has been studied in horses, its AF detection performance is unknown. Objective: (I) Validation of ILRs for AF detection in horses. (II) Determining pAF incidence using ILRs and estimate the positive predictive value (PPV). Methods: (I) Experimental study; (II) Longitudinal observational ...
Heil BA, van Heule M, Thompson SK, Kearns TA, Beckers KF, Oberhaus EL, King G, Daels P, Dini P, Sones JL.The equine uterus is highly interrogated during estrus prior to breeding and establishing pregnancy. Many studies in mares have been performed during estrus under the influence of high estrogen concentrations, including the equine estrual microbiome. To date, it is unknown how the uterine microbiome of the mare is influenced by cyclicity; while, the equine vaginal microbiome is stable throughout the estrous cycle. We hypothesized that differences would exist between the equine endometrial microbiome of mares in estrus and anestrus. The aim of this study was two-fold: to characterize the reside...
Dyson S, Pollard D.The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed to facilitate the identification of musculoskeletal pain. The aim of the current study was to collate behavioural data using the RHpE from horses at competitions assumed by their owners and/or riders to be fit for competition. The objectives were to quantify the frequency of occurrence of behaviours in pain-free horses and those with lameness or abnormalities of canter and to determine any differences between disciplines and levels of competition. The RHpE was applied to 1358 horses competing in Grand Prix (GP) dressage (n = 211), 5* three-da...
Strompfová V, Štempelová L.Characterization of microbiota structure on the skin of healthy horses is important for further development of modulation strategies to ensure optimal bacterial composition for physiological processes. This requirement is also supported by the relatively high incidence of dermatological diseases in horses and thus the need to manage them therapeutically. The taxonomic analysis of skin samples (n = 30) from five different body parts of clinically healthy Shetlands ponies females (neck, back, abdomen, pastern, muzzle) kept under homogeneous conditions (in open stalls with paddock, feed with ...
Vázquez FJ, Argüelles D, Muñoz JA, Genton M, Méndez Angulo JL, Climent F, Roquet I, Iglesias M, Velloso Álvarez A, Vitoria A, Bulnes F, Saitua A....Inguinal hernias (IHs) and ruptures are a relatively common condition in horses, occurring in foals (congenital) and adult (acquired) animals. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on 40 cases that underwent laparoscopic surgery to close the VRs using barbed sutures alone or combined with other techniques. Signalment, clinical presentation, surgery, and follow-up data were obtained. In total, fifty-nine VRs were closed using barbed sutures (alone or in combination with other methods), with six cases performed prophylactically and forty-four due to acquired IH. Of the forty-four ...
Paranjape VV, Knych HK, Berghaus LJ, Giancola S, Cathcart J, Reed RA.Anatomical location-dependent differences in transdermal opioid penetration are well described in human patients. Although this has been investigated in horses with fentanyl, there is no literature available on location-dependent plasma buprenorphine concentrations when administered as a transdermal matrix-type patch. Unassigned: This study aims to compare the plasma concentrations achieved from the matrix-type transdermal buprenorphine patches placed at different anatomical sites (metacarpus, gaskin, and ventral tail base) in healthy adult horses. Unassigned: This is a randomized experimental...
Mönki J, Mykkänen A.Mild-moderate and severe equine asthma (MEA and SEA) are prevalent inflammatory airway conditions affecting horses of numerous breeds and disciplines. Despite extensive research, detailed disease pathophysiology and the differences between MEA and SEA are still not completely understood. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology, broadly used in clinical practice and in equine asthma research, has limited means to represent the inflammatory status in the lower airways. Lipidomics is a field of science that can be utilized in investigating cellular mechanisms and cell-to-cell interactions. Studies ...
Romeiro PS, Weber SH, Justino EJ, Michelotto PV.The use of immersive methodologies is a trend in the educational environment, but their outcomes in the teaching-learning process need to be better understood. This study aimed to assess the impact of the educational environment on learning equine distal limb ultrasonography, comparing immersive classroom, traditional classroom, and virtual classroom. A total of 153 veterinary medicine students from the first to the third semester participated in this study. The students were divided into four groups: traditional (n = 22), immersive (n = 100), online (n = 31), and traditional-immer...
Verhaar N, Grages AM, Bienert-Zeit A, Schwieder A, Reineking W, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Kästner S, Geburek F.Ancillary diagnostic methods to enhance the accuracy of viability assessment have not been established for use in clinical practice. Objective: To assess intestinal microperfusion measured by Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Spectrophotometry (LDFS) in naturally occurring small intestinal strangulations of different origins and to compare this between viable and non-viable segments. Methods: Prospective clinical trial. Methods: Forty horses undergoing colic surgery for naturally occurring small intestinal strangulations were included. Tissue oxygen saturation (tSO), haemoglobin (tHB) and blood flow...
Dupont J, Roman Dura B, Salciccia A, Serteyn D, Sandersen C.To study the changes in dynamic compliance (C), ventilation/perfusion (V˙/ Q˙) mismatch and haemodynamic variables in hypoxaemic anaesthetized horses whose PaO increased following salbutamol inhalation. Methods: Retrospective, clinical, cohort study. Methods: A group of 73 client-owned horses treated with salbutamol when PaO <100 mmHg (13.3 kPa) during anaesthesia. Methods: Horses were divided into two groups: responders (R), where PaO after salbutamol ≥1.2 PaO before treatment (i.e. ≥20% increase), and non-responders (NR), where PaO after salbutamol <1.2 PaO before treatment. Demographi...
da Luz MPF, Narciso MHPM, Maia CM, de Figueiredo Pantoja JC, Baragli P, Puoli Filho JN, de Oliveira Orsi R.We propose a practical method of assessing the personality of horses using five personality axes. Four evaluators empirically judged 19 horse individuals on specific adjectives for each axis. To validate the questionnaire, four behavioral tests were conducted with these same animals (social interactions, novel object test, bridge test,and arena test). In this tests, the frequency of specific behaviors were evaluated to create a scale related to the same personality adjectives and judge the animals based on their reactions.The questionnaire was reliable in determining the personality of horses,...
Scholler D, Wittenberg J, Zablotski Y, May A.The public perception relating to the welfare of horses involved with equestrian sports is associated with training methods used and the presentation of horses at events. In this context, very tight nosebands, which are intended to prevent the horse from opening its mouth, also attract a lot of attention. Various studies have evaluated the impact of tight nosebands on stress parameters, whereas the effect of tight nosebands on upper airway function is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the study was to use overground endoscopy to evaluate changes in pharyngeal and laryngeal function when a tight n...
Kilcoyne I, Nieto J, Nottle BF, Flynn H, Knych HK.Addition of morphine to the perfusate while performing intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) may be helpful in treating painful infectious orthopaedic conditions of the distal limb. Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine synovial morphine concentrations following IVRLP with morphine alone or in combination with amikacin. Methods: Randomised cross-over in vivo experiment. Methods: Six horses underwent IVRLP with 0.1 mg/kg morphine sulphate diluted to 60 mL using 0.9% NaCl (M group) or combined with 2 g amikacin and 0.9% NaCl (MA group) with a 2-week washout per...
Liu X, Peng Y, Zhang X, Wang X, Chen W, Kou X, Liang H, Ren W, Khan MZ, Wang C.Variation in coat color among equids has attracted significant interest in genetics and breeding research. The range of colors is primarily determined by the type, concentration, and distribution of melanin pigments, with the balance between eumelanin and pheomelanin influenced by numerous genetic factors. Advances in genomic and sequencing technologies have enabled the identification of several candidate genes that influence coat color, thereby clarifying the genetic basis of these diverse phenotypes. In this review, we concisely categorize coat coloration in horses and donkeys, focusing on t...
Seguí Pedrosa B, Dujardin C, Moses B, Thompson C, Sarasola P, Gattacceca F, Loup B, Garcia P, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Clodronic acid is designated as a controlled medication for competition horses by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports and, according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, clodronic acid is not to be administered to racehorses younger than 3.5 years or within 30 days prior to a race. In this study, 35 horses involved in competition were treated with a single dose of 1.53 mg clodronic acid/kg bodyweight intramuscularly. Plasma samples were obtained before treatment and 10, 20, 30, and 40 days post-administration. Clodronic acid concentrations were mea...
Shokrollahi S, Mohammadi R, Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei F, Jalilzadeh-Amin G, Hashemi-Asl SM.The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of xylazine-acepromazine versus xylazine-pregabalin - in horses. Four healthy crossbred horses were included in the study and assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg) intravenously. In treatment II (T2), the animals received intragastric administration of pregabalin (4.00 mg kg) followed by xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg) intravenously after 60 min. Head height above ground (HHA...
Hubbell JAE, Muir WW, Gorenberg E, Hopster K.Horses are the most challenging of the common companion animals to anesthetize. Induction of anesthesia in the horse is complicated by the fact that it is accompanied by a transition from a standing position to recumbency. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on induction of anesthesia with a focus on the behavioral and physiologic/pharmacodynamic responses and the actions and interactions of the drugs administered to induce anesthesia in the healthy adult horse with the goal of increasing consistency and predictability.
Renaudin C, Wensley F, Morgan J, Cassano J, Spriet M.Fetal age in Quarter Horses can be predicted within 2 weeks from 100- to 200- days of gestation using femur length, biparietal diameter (cranium diameter) and eye approximated volume. However, as pregnancy advances, the femur and cranium become too large to be imaged in their entirety using ultrasound and the corresponding biometric parameters can no longer be measured. In this longitudinal study, the proximal phalanx (P1) was evaluated as a novel biometric parameter for late gestation to predict fetal age and bone maturation. Transrectal ultrasound was performed in ten pregnant mares with kno...
Gudea A, Stan FG, Irimie A, Mârza S, Martonos CO, Gal A.The reconstruction of past life based on archaeozoology is a challenging domain that offers a range of valuable details concerning former human and animal populations. Additionally, the ancient era is a source of information for human and veterinary medicine, as well as for other biological sciences. This report highlights a pathological lesion identified during the investigation of a horse skeleton from a pit dated La Tène in Alba County (Romania). The left scapula with lesions was collected from the skeleton of a buried 7-8-year-old male horse. The aforementioned bone underwent gross, radio...
Barton CK, Hector RC, Hendrickson DA, Kawcak CE, Nelson BB, Goodrich LR.To compare 3 perioperative feeding regimens and their effect on anesthetic complications, manure output, and colic proportion in healthy horses. Methods: 45 horses presenting for elective orthopedic procedures were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: not fasted (NF; continuous access to hay perioperatively), fasted muzzled (FM; 10-hour preoperative fast with slow refeeding postoperatively and muzzle placement), or fasted not muzzled (FNM; same as FM without muzzle placement). Anesthetic protocol was standardized. Outcomes compared between groups included anesthesia time, arterial oxygenation, ...
de Souza TC, Burford J, Busschers E, Freeman S, Suthers JM.To report the long-term survival of adult horses that were subjected to synovial lavage for treatment of contaminated and septic synovial structures. Methods: Multicenter, prospective observational trial. Methods: Horses (n = 240) presented for synovial sepsis at 10 UK referral centers. Methods: Data for horses presented for treatment of synovial sepsis were collected over a 15 month recruitment period. Owners were contacted a minimum of 365 days after surgery using a structured client interview to assess long term survival. Descriptive statistics, and univariable and Cox proportional haza...
de Carvalho JRG, Del Puppo D, Littiere TO, de Sales NAA, Silva ACY, Ribeiro G, de Almeida FN, Alves BG, Gatto IRH, Ramos GV, Ferraz GC.Diagnosing and treating lameness in horses is essential to improving their welfare. In equine orthopedic practice, infrared thermography (IRT) can indirectly detect soreness. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can treat painful and inflammatory processes in horses. Using IRT, the efficacy of meloxicam (Maxicam Gel) was evaluated in pre-treating transient synovitis in horses induced by a middle carpal joint injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from 055:B5 at a dose of 10 endotoxin units. Unassigned: In a cross-over design, six healthy horses were randomly assigned to receive either 0.6 ...
Dubuc J, Schneider MJ, Dubuc V, Richard H, Pinsard M, Bancelin S, Legare F, Girard C, Laverty S.Investigate meniscal extracellular matrix degradation. Equine menisci ( = 34 from 17 horses) were studied. Site-matched sections were cut and scored from three regions (ROIs; = 102) and stained for histology, proteoglycan (safranin O and fast green), aggrecan, and collagen cleavage (NITEGE, DIPEN, and C1,2C antibodies, respectively). Picrosirius red and second harmonic generation microscopy were performed to investigate collagen ultrastructure. A total of 42 ROIs met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The median (range) ROI histological score was 3 (0-9), providin...
Yokomori T, Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Ishimaru M, Sato F, Hori Y, Segawa T, Itou T.Retraining retired racehorses for various purposes can help correct behavioral issues. However, ensuring efficiency and preventing accidents present global challenges. Based on the hypothesis that a simple personality assessment could help address these challenges, the present study aimed to identify genetic markers associated with personality. Eight genes were selected from 18 personality-related candidate genes that are orthologs of human personality genes, and their association with personality was verified based on actual behavior. A total of 169 Thoroughbred horses were assessed for their...
Furukawa R, Tozaki T, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Takahashi Y, Fukui E, Kakoi H.Gene doping is prohibited in horse sports and can involve the administration of exogenous genes, called transgenes, to postnatal animals. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods have been developed to detect gene doping; however, these generally require DNA extraction from the plasma prior to qPCR. In this study, we developed two methods, direct droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and nested ddPCR, to detect the equine erythropoietin (EPO) transgene without DNA extraction. Direct ddPCR used pretreated plasma and PCR to detect the EPO transgene spiked at 10 copies/μL. Nested ddPCR utilis...
Hart KA, Kimura S.Immunomodulators can stimulate, suppress, or regulate one or many aspects of the immune response. Use of a variety of immunostimulants, immunosuppressors, and anti-inflammatory drugs are described in horses, but the evidence supporting their efficacy is variable. Corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the best characterized immunomodulators in horses, but further study is needed to fully define their ideal dosing protocols and indications and to characterize the efficacy of other immunomodulators in equine medicine.
van Veggel ECS, Vanderperren K, Selberg KT, Bergman HJ, Hoogelander B.This study evaluates the change in an MRI of the proximal metacarpal region in a group of sport horses that returned to work. This retrospective analysis evaluated 18 limbs represented by 17 horses. Results: The hyperintense signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) on T1W/T2*W GRE sequences decreased or stayed the same in the majority of cases. The hyperintense STIR signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL resolved in the majority of the patients, and the third metacarpal bone (McIII) hyperintense STIR signal resolved in all patients. The ...
Hardwick JL, Ahern BJ, Crawford KL, Allen KJ, Franklin SH.Yearling laryngeal function (YLF) is frequently assessed at the time of sale and the outcomes of these assessments can have significant economic implications. The YLF of horses that subsequently underwent a prosthetic laryngoplasty (PL) is unknown. Objective: We hypothesised horses with YLF ≥grade II.2 would be at increased risk of requiring PL, compared with YLF
Elisabeth Müller C.A study comprising 74 colic and 74 control horses admitted to an animal hospital was performed. Faecal samples were collected and analysed for dry matter concentration, particle size distribution using wet-sieving, and sand presence through a sand sedimentation test. Data on horse breed, age, gender and basic feeding variables was collected and analysed using χ-tests. Faecal dry matter concentration, particle size distribution and sand score was compared between colic and non-colic horses, and between horses with different colic types, using one-way ANOVA. Results showed that colic and non-co...
Mudge M.Morbidity after equine abdominal surgery is common and post-operative complications can be costly to owners. The focus of this article is on intraoperative decision-making and current evidence, including surgical techniques and prognostic information that can prevent and predict complications. Emerging techniques for intra-operative monitoring and intestinal viability assessment, anastomotic techniques, body wall suturing, peritonitis treatment, and pain management are discussed.
Spoormakers TJP, Wiemer P.To describe a symphyseal osteotomy stabilised with two short locking compression plates (LCPs) for treatment of class 2 malocclusions. Methods: Case series. Methods: Five horses (age range 8 months to 5¾ years) with overjets and/or overbites ranging from 6 to 32 mm and from 0 to 60 mm, respectively, were treated by osteotomy through the caudal third of the mandibular symphysis, cranial to the interdental space. After cranial distraction and ventral rotation of the rostral part of the mandible, two short (5/6 hole), bent 3.5 mm LCPs were applied ventro-laterally and secured with two or three l...
Morales CJ, Costa LRR.The practice of medicine has always been associated with complications. In fact, in its early stages, these complications contributed to the understanding of certain diseases and advancement of the medical field. In equine practice, virtually every procedure carries an associated risk. In fact, even procedures that would have minimal risk in human medicine may pose significant risk in equine practice owing to the unique nature of the horse. For instance, a simple rectal palpation could result in a rectal tear following an unexpected movement of the patient. Thus, extrapolations of complication...
Menzies R.The oral examination is performed in equids to assess and monitor oral health status, provide diagnoses, and determine efficacy of treatments. While there is currently insufficient scientific material of adequate quality to enable evidence-based medicine in equine dentistry, this by no means negates the clinician's responsibility to provide oral health care in a scientific and ethical manner. To do so requires that the clinician be knowledgable and skilled in dentistry and general medicine, that each case upholds the principles of scientific method, and that data is gathered and appraised in a...
Appolonova SA, Baranov PA, Mesonzhnik NV, Brazhnikova DO, Rodchenkov GM.A method is described for the determination of mesocarb abuse in equestrian sport by combining gradient liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Mesocarb was administrated orally to two horses at a dose of 50 µg/kg. Urine samples were collected up to 120 h post administration. Hydrolyzed and conjugated urine fractions were handled using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). The identity of the parent drug and metabolites was confirmed using liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Mesocarb and seven metabolites were detected in horse...
Ivens P, South V.Thoracic neoplasia often presents with generalized and nonspecific clinical signs and should be considered as a differential especially when patients are nonresponsive to therapeutic intervention for more common differential diagnoses of respiratory disease (such as equine asthma) and where there is evidence thoracic and/or abdominal effusion upon examination. Antemortem diagnosis can be challenging and working closely with a pathologist to differentiate the respective neoplasia is helpful. Early recognition and appropriate management of thoracic neoplasia are vital for patient welfare as rap...
Dixon PM.This article reviews the different types of equine non-neoplastic and neoplastic oral and sinonasal tumors and describes their known prevalence and general characteristics. The clinical and ancillary diagnostic findings (primarily radiography and endoscopy, and increasingly computed tomography) for each type of growth that can aid diagnosis are described. Most lesions require a histopathological confirmation of the diagnosed growth. The possible treatments and prognosis for these growths are briefly described.
Martin-Giménez T, Cruz AM, Barragán A, Montero E, Sanchez PG, Caballero G, Corradini I.Occipital condylar fractures (OCFs) causing delayed onset lower cranial nerve paralysis (LCNPs) are rare. We present a 7-year-old Friesian horse with delayed onset dysphagia caused by vagus nerve (CNX) paralysis and suspicion of glossopharyngeal nerve (CNIX) paralysis developed several days after a minor head injury. Endoscopic examination revealed right laryngeal hemiplegia and intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate. An area of submucosal hemorrhage and bulging was appreciated over the dorsal aspect of the medial compartment of the right guttural pouch. Radiological examination o...
Radke S, Finley E.This article provides an overview of several agricultural and industrial toxicants that are most likely to be encountered by horses. Overviews include brief backgrounds of the agents in question, potential sources of intoxication, mechanisms of action, clinical signs, lesions, diagnostic considerations, and treatment options.
Lloyd KC, Stover SM, Pascoe JR, Pool RR.A 2.5-cm long, 0.8 mm in diameter catheter was placed percutaneously into the palmarolateral pouch of the antebrachiocarpal joint in 6 clinically normal horses. The catheter was affixed in place for 72 hours. Cytologic analysis was performed on synovial fluid specimens obtained through the catheter at postcatheterization hours (PCH) 0, 24, and 72. The horses were euthanatized at PCH 72, and macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed on the dorsal portion of the joint capsule and the palmarolateral pouch of the catheterized and contralateral (noncatheterized) joint. Clinical, synov...
Ellerbrock RE, Canisso IF, Podico G, Roady PJ, Uhl E, Lima FS, Li Z.While recent work demonstrated that enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin reach the fetoplacental unit without causing obvious lesions in the 9-month-old equine fetus or resulting foal, many practitioners still hesitate to prescribe a fluoroquinolone during pregnancy. Since early gestation is a critical time for fetal skeletal development, if fluoroquinolones are chondrotoxic to the fetus at any point during gestation, this period would be important. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 2 weeks' exposure to enrofloxacin on the equine fetus between 46 and 60 days gestation. Twelve pregna...